Sharks have historically been studied and caught with little consideration of their welfare. A growing body of research is changing how scientists and managers approach shark handling.
Sharks subjected to catch-and-release fishing experience lactic acid buildup, cardiac stress, and oxygen debt that can cause delayed mortality over days. Boat-side handling out of water causes additional physiological stress. Shark finning, where fins are sliced off living animals that are then returned to the sea to suffocate, represents one of the most sustained forms of documented cruelty in commercial fishing. Even research tagging procedures cause stress that can affect behavior for extended periods post-capture.